August 23, 2022
According to the latest results published by the Chamber of Marine Commerce, cargo shipments through the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway System continue to bounce back from a slow start, creating optimism for the second half of the 2022 shipping season.
The Chamber indicates that overall cargo tonnage shipments (from March 22 to July 31) via the Seaway totaled 15.7 million metric tons, still down 7.65% compared to 2021, but continuing to close the gap in comparison to April and May.
Highlights for Seaway tonnage up to the end of July included a 268% increase in potash shipments from Western Canada; a 50% increase in shipments of refined Canadian petroleum products destined for Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada; and a 11% rise in road salt shipments.
"We certainly see things heading in the right direction as we near the mid-point of the shipping season," said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. "Indications are that the Canadian grain crops in both Western Canada and Ontario are very strong, so we're expecting a big push in grain for the rest of the year. There has also been a good increase in liquid bulk shipments and construction materials remain strong."
Source: Chamber of Marine Commerce